IDENTIFIERS ----------- id: 150670 accession number: M.39 & A-1929 DATE AUDIT ---------- created: Saturday 6 August 2011 updated: Wednesday 11 January 2023 DESCRIPTIVE DATA ---------------- object type: Boiled and stamped leather (cuir bouilli) case, probably for holding a knife and spoon. The domed pull-off lid and tapering body have three suspension loops on each side, through which is threaded a brown cord, probably of cotton. The case is decorated with panels of punched scalework within reeded borders. object type: boiled leather case for holding cutlery, stamped with scalework within reeded borders, with a suspension cord title: cutlery case LICENSING --------- text license status: CC0 image license status: CC-BY-NC-SA OWNERSHIP --------- instutition: The Fitzwilliam Museum department: Applied Arts creditline: Given by W.E Miller STABLE URL ---------- url: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150670 TECHNIQUES ---------- There is much conjecture on how 'boiled leather' or 'cuir bouilli' was made and whether the leather was boiled in water. The most popular theory is the one suggested in 'La Grande Encyclopedie (Paris 1887-1905) in which: 'pieces of leather must be boiled in wax mixed with resin and glue. Once boiled in this manner, the leather preserves, whilst it is moist, sufficient pliability to enable it to be moulded, and when it is dry it possess a hardness and rigidity nearly equal to that of wood to which it is preferable by reason of its lightness.' The stamped and engraved decoration would have been added before the leather was dried. cuir bouilli CATEGORIES ------ category: boxes DATING ------ creation date: 1500 - 1600 creation date earliest: 1500 creation date latest: 1600 culture: 16th Century CREATORS -------- maker: Unknown DIMENSIONS ---------- dimension: Height units: cm value: 3.2 dimension: Length units: cm value: 17.8 dimension: Width units: cm value: 5 CITATIONS -------- Leather in Life, Art and Industry Conservation of Leather and Related Materials ---